Clarke Peters

Biography: Peters is an all around performer and artist; he is an actor, singer, writer, dancer and director. Peters began his stage career in Paris in 1971, but became a fixture in the London theatre. His credits include Guys and Dolls, Driving Miss Daisy, Kiss of the Spider Woman, and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. Peters also trained as a mime; he was introduced to the art form by a protege of famed mime, Marcel Marceau.

He wrote and performed in the musical revue, Five Guys Named Moe, which highlights the music of Louis Jordan. Peters won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Entertainment for the revue in 1991 for the original London production. He wrote a book based on this revue and it was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Book of A Musical. His first revue was also nominated for the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1992.

Peters received a Theatre World Award for his 1999 role as Joe Mott in the Broadway production of The Iceman Cometh. He also played Billy Flynn in Chicago in the U.S. and in London.

Peters was the co-creator of Unforgettable, a musical revue about Nat King Cole. He starred as Cole and was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award as Best Actor. Peters was also the co-writer of a book based on his revue. In 2006, Peters appeared as Porgy in the Sir Trevor Nunn directed musical Porgy and Bess in London's famed West End. It is an adaptation of Gershwins' original opera.

American TV audiences best know Peters from his roles in two HBO series. Peters was Fat Curt in the 2000 mini-series The Corner and Detective Lester Freamon aka "Cool Lester Smooth", in the five seasons of the highly acclaimed series, The Wire.

Peters is an American who makes his home in London. His son, the actor Joe Jacobs, was born and raised in England.… Expand